EP2480466B1

EP2480466B1 - Capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage

Info

Publication number: EP2480466B1
Application number: EP10717154.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Masciadri
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: BERGER, SIMONA
Priority date: 2009-09-25
Filing date: 2010-05-06
Publication date: 2014-08-20
Anticipated expiration: 2030-05-06
Also published as: ITMI20091636A1; IT1395924B1; BR112012007432A2; EP2480466A1; WO2011035942A1

Description

The present invention relates to a capsule for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage.
Various types of machines are known for the automatic production of food beverages, in which within disposable capsules a product is present which according to its applications can be a liquid concentrate or an infusion powder or a hydro-soluble powder.
These machines have a group for supplying water, which is delivered through the capsule to interact with its contents. One of the major problems found in the known machines is due to the possibility that a beverage in production be contaminated with residues deriving from the preceding operating cycle of the machine. This can happen for instance when external portions of the machine penetrate into the capsule for opening the inlet and outlet way of the fluid. Another drawback lamented from the known machines derives also from the fact that often for the opening of the outlet way of the fluid from the capsule, external portions of the machine are utilized which do not offer the needed guarantees of hygiene and expose the product contained in the capsule to the risk of contamination.
WO 2008/132571 discloses a capsule according to preamble of claim 1
Technical task of the present invention is, therefore, to realize a capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage, which permits to eliminate the technical drawbacks lamented in the known art.
Within this technical task a scope of the invention is to realize a capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage, which does not expose the product contained within it to the risk of contamination from external agents.
Another scope of the invention is to realize a type of capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage, by which the machine in which it is supplied can produce a beverage without the risk of contaminating it with residues deriving from preceding operation cycles.
Not lastly, a scope of the invention is to realize a capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage, by which the machine in which it is supplied can continuously work with high productivity and particularly with the only interruptions needed to change the capsule.
This technical task and also these and other scopes according to the present invention are reached by realizing a capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 1.
Other features of the present invention are also defined in the subsequent claims.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be more evident from the preferred but not exclusive description of embodiments of the capsule for containing a product particularly for preparing a food beverage according to the finding, which are illustrated in an indicative but not limitative way in the annexed drawings, in which:

figure 1 shows a perspective exploded view of a capsule according to a first preferred mode to realize the invention;
figure 2 shows a side view of the capsule in figure 1 assembled and sectioned along its central axis;
figure 3 shows the capsule of figure 1 positioned in the supplying group of a machine, before opening the inlet and outlet way;
figure 4 shows the capsule of figure 1 positioned in the supplying group of a machine, after opening the inlet and outlet way;
figure 5 shows a perspective exploded view of a capsule according to a second preferred mode to realize the invention;
figure 6 shows a side view of the capsule of figure 5 assembled and sectioned along its central axis;
figure 7 shows the capsule of figure 5 positioned in the supplying group of a machine, before opening the inlet and outlet way; and
figure 8 shows the capsule of figure 5 positioned in the supplying group of a machine, after opening the inlet and outlet way.

Equivalent parts in the description will be indicated with the same reference character.
With reference to cited figures, a capsule is shown for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage, indicated as a whole with the reference character 1.
The capsule can be used also in other fields, for instance in the pharmaceutical field, where the metered supply of a product is required.
The preferred field of application is anyhow that of the capsules containing a liquid concentrate which can be diluted for producing a food beverage.
The capsule 1 comprises a bottom 2, a side wall 3 and a cover 4 which delimit a closed chamber 5 for containing the product.
The cover 4 has an outer region 7 circumscribing an inner region 10 moveable with respect to the outer region 7 for opening an inlet way 9 of a fluid in the chamber 5 through the cover 4.
Advantageously, the chamber 5 has internally a punch 6 apt to share at least partially the displacement of the inner region 10 of the cover 4 for the opening of an outlet way 14 of the fluid from the chamber 5 through the bottom 2.
The punch 6 and the inner region 10 of the cover 4 can be displaced in the direction of the central axis L of the capsule 1.
The punch 6 has also a tip 12 for breaking a region 13 of the bottom 2 for opening said outlet way 14. The region 13 is preferably delimited by a facilitated break line 29 realized by means of a reduction of the thickness of the bottom 2.
The capsule 1 is so configured that it causes the opening of the inlet way 9 along a breakable line 16 of the cover 4 which makes possible the displacement of the inner region 10 with respect to the outer region 7 of the cover 4. The cover 4 is subject to rupture along the breakable line 16 through the actuation of a punch 23 of the machine.
In the second preferred embodiment of the invention, also the breakable line 16 is of the kind of facilitated rupture obtained through a reduction of the thickness of the cover 4.
The opening of the inlet way of the fluid in the chamber of the capsule can occur in any other way which takes advantage from the relative displacement between an inner region and an outer region of the cover. As an example, if the cover is realized in an elastically yieldable material, it is possible to take advantage from a selective deformation of the inner region of the cover in the direction of the central axis of the capsule. In this case by way of an example the punch of the machine, from one side with one of its inner portion will exert a pressure onto the inner region of the cover, causing both its deformation with a subsequent actuation of the inner punch to the capsule for the opening of the outlet way, and the punching with an appropriate injector for the opening of the inlet way, and from the other side with one of its outer portions circumscribing its inner portion will realize the hydraulic tightness on the outer portion of the cover of which the deformation will be conveniently impaired.
The region 13 of the bottom 2 subject to rupture is present in an hollow protrusion 32 extending from the outer side of the bottom 2 and apt to house the tip 12 of the punch 6.
The inner region 10 of the cover 4 can be coplanar with its outer zone 7, as shown for the first preferred realization of the finding, or preferably it can comprise a protrusion 15 extending from the outer side of the cover 4 for a length not lower than the displacement stroke of the punch 6, as shown for the second preferred realization of the invention. The second solution is to prefer, as it permits to avoid the even partial introduction of the outer punch 23 in the chamber of the capsule 1 and consequently to avoid the contamination of the outer punch 23 with the product contained inside the chamber of the capsule. The machine which mounts the outer punch 23 is therefore able to work in this case with a high productivity, due to the fact that between one working cycle and the other in addition to the change of the capsule no cleaning operation must be done.
The punch 6 can be obtained as a single separated distinct piece from the cover 4, as shown in the first preferred realization of the invention, or as a single piece with the cover 4 as shown in the second preferred realization of the invention. In the first case, the punch 6 has on its base a support dish 24 on the inner side of the inner region 10 of the cover 4. The cover 4 has the shape of a thin sheet peripherally welded to the side wall 3 of the capsule 1 and supported at the inner side of the outer region 7 of the cover 4, from baffles 25 which elongate radially towards the center of the chamber 5 from the apical region of the side wall 3 of the capsule 1. In particular, the more inner radial apical ends 30 of the baffles 25 identify the breakable line 16 as they limit the advancing space of the inner portion 27 of the punch 23 of the machine inside the chamber 5.
In the second case, the capsule 1 can be realized just in two pieces, one of which comprises a cover 4 and a punch 6 and the other one comprises the bottom 2 and the side wall 3.
The punch 6 preferably has a cross-shaped cross-section which permits to spare material.
The tip 12 of the punch 6 in the first preferred solution is rounded, whereas in the second preferred embodiment of the invention it is flat, to determine an immediate rupture of the bottom 2 without any release of material.
In a not shown solution the punch 6 can have a taper proceeding from its base towards its tip 12. This permits in some applications to regulate the outlet way of the fluid according to the depth of penetration of the punch 6 through the bottom 2 of the capsule 1. According to the application, a reduced outlet way would permit to increase the interaction time between the water and the product contained in the capsule, facilitating for example a preimpregnation of the product before the very supply, whereas a broader outlet way would permit to accelerate the production process.
With reference now specifically to the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the punch 6 is moveable between a first initial position raised from the bottom 2, a second position through the bottom 2 for the opening of the outlet way 14, and a third position at least partially retracted from the bottom 2, in order to free at least partially the outlet way 14. Advantageously, inside the chamber 5 automatic return means of the punch 6 are present, from the second to the third position. Such return means permit a more rapid evacuation of the chamber 5 and therefore contribute to reduce the supply time, so increasing the productivity of the machine.
The return means comprise an elastically yieldable element 17 wedged between the punch 6 and an inner surface of the chamber 5.
The elastically yieldable element 17 comprises an inner collar 18 placed against a peripheral shoulder 19 provided in an intermediate axial position of the punch 6, an outer collar 20 placed against the angled inner surface between the bottom 2 and the side wall 3 of the capsule 1, and a plurality of spokes 21 for connecting the inner collar 18 with the outer collar 20.
The elastic element 17 has means for calibrating the opening of the inlet way 9.
The calibration means comprise a plurality of support feet 22 abutting from the inner collar 18 and apt to lean against a region of the bottom 2 external to the breakable region 13.
The function of the capsule according with the invention appears evident from what has been described and illustrated, and particularly, is substantially as follows.
The capsule 1 is placed into the capsule carrier 26 of the machine. The machine actuates the punch 23 which with its inner region 27 presses against the inner region 10 of the cover 4 to move it towards the interior of the chamber 5 and with its outer region 28 realizes the hydraulic tightness on the outer region 7 of the cover 4.
The pressure applied from the punch 23 separates, along the break line 16, the inner region 10 of the cover 4 from the outer region 7 and moves it in the direction of the central line L of the capsule 1. In this way the opening of the inlet way 9 is done.
The movement of the inner region 10 of the cover determines also the movement of the punch 6 in the same direction, being this integral or resting or being separated but in any case on the trajectory of the inner region 10 of the cover 4. The punch 6 during its movement breaks the bottom 2 causing the opening of the outlet way 14.
In the second preferred embodiment of the finding, the displacement of the punch 6 towards the bottom 2 charges the elastic element 17 which is compressed up to the moment in which the feet 22 rest on the bottom 2 of the capsule, determining the end of the stroke of the punch 6 in a position of calibrated opening of the inlet way 9. When the punch 23 retracts itself, the elastic element 17 is discharged by expanding itself in order to bring automatically the punch 6 towards its third position in which it permits a more rapid discharge of the fluid from the outlet way 14.
Naturally the inner region 27 of the punch 23 has an inner duct 35 for feeding the water into the chamber 5 through the inlet way 9 which it has opened. The water interacts with the inner product within the chamber 5, for instance by dilution, and the so produced beverage exits from the chamber 5 through the exit way 14 open by the punch 6.
The so conceived capsule is subject to many modifications and variations, all within the inventive concept; furthermore all details can be substituted with technically equivalent elements, as in the appended claims.
In practice the used materials, and also the dimensions, can be of any kind according to the needs and to the state of the art. For instance, the capsule can be realized at least partially in polystyrene or in other material which presents characteristics of lightness, weldability, compatibility with foodstuffs, economy.

Claims

A cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage, comprising a bottom (2), a side wall (3) and a cover (4) which delimit a closed chamber (5) for containing said product and that said chamber (5) has internally a punch (6), characterized in that said cover (4) has an outer region (7) circumscribing an inner region (10) moveable in relation to said outer region (7) for opening an inlet way (9) of a fluid in said chamber (5) through said cover (4), said punch (6) apt to share at least partially the displacement of said inner region (10) of said cover (4) for the opening of the outlet way (14) of said fluid from said chamber (5) through said bottom (2), the punch (6) being integral or resting; or being separated but in any case on the trajectory of displacement of the inner region (10) of the cover (4), so that the movement of the inner region (10) of the cover determines also the movement of the punch (6) in the same direction.
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 1, characterized in that said punch (6) and said inner region (10) of said cover (4) can be displaced in the direction of the central axis (L) of said cap (1).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said punch (6) has a tip (12) for breaking a region (13) of said bottom (2) for opening said outlet way (14).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 3, characterized in that said breakable region (13) is provided in a hollow protrusion (32) abutting from the outer side of said bottom (2) apt to receive said tip (12) of said punch (6).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said inner region (10) of said cover (4) has a protrusion (15) abutting from the outer side of said cover (4) for a length not shorter then the displacement stroke of said punch (6).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that it is so configured to cause the opening of said inlet way (9) along a break line (16) of said cover (4), which makes possible to translate said inner region (10) with reference to said outer region (7) of said cover (4).
The cap (1) for containing the product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 6, characterized in that said break line (16) of said cover (4) is a kind of a facilitated break line obtained from a thinning of the thickness of said cover (4).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said punch (6) is moveable between a first initial position raised from said bottom (2), a second position through said bottom (2) for opening said outlet way (14) and a third position at least partially retracted from said bottom (2), in order to free at least partially said outlet way (14) and that inside said chamber (5) automatic return means of said punch (6) are provided, from said second to said third position.
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 8, characterized in that said return means comprise a resiliently yieldable element (17) wedged between said punch (6) and an inner surface of said chamber (5).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 9, characterized in that said resiliently yieldable element (17) comprises an inner collar (18) placed against a peripheral shoulder (19) provided in an intermediate axial position of said punch (6), an outer collar (20) placed against the angled inner surface between said bottom (2) and said side wall (3) and a plurality of spokes (21) for connecting said inner collar (12) with said outer collar (20).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 9, characterized in that said resilient element (17) has calibration means for the opening of said inlet way (9).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to claim 10, characterized in that said calibration means comprise a plurality of support feet (22) abutting from said inner collar (18) and apt to lean against a region of said bottom (2) external to said breakable region (13).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said punch (6) elongates as a single piece from said inner region (10) of said cover (4).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said punch (6) is a single distinct piece from said cover (4).
The cap (1) for containing a product, particularly for preparing a food beverage according to one or more preceding claims, characterized in that said punch (6) has a cross-shaped section.